Clock striking mechanism



(ModeL) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

O. ARONSON.

CLOCK STRIKING MEGHANISM.

No. 395,110. Patented Dec. 25, 1888.

WITNESSES:

' I INVENTOR:

ATTORNEYS.

N. PFKERS. How-Lithographer. washin lcn. D,C

UNITED STATES PATENT (llAlhl ARONHOX, Ol BROOKLYN, Ni lW YORK.

CLOCK $TFllKlNG MECHANlSW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LCL'uQl'; Patent 27c 395,110, datedDecember 25, 1888.

Application filed December '7, 1887. Serial No. 257,191. dliotleld Toall 2!,7L0'I/b it may concern..-

v hour hands ma be of an approved con- Be it known that I, CHAIMAnoxsox, a citil struction, and hence I do not limit myself to zen oiRussia, at present residing in Brookl any peculiar constiaiction withthis mechanlyn, in the county of Kings and State of New l ism, and afurther description olf the various 5 York, have invented a new andImproved 1 parts belonging to the same is not deemed Clock, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, 3 necessary, with the exception ol' suchparts and exact description. as are directly connected with the improve-The object of my invention is to provide a Z ment. new and improvedclock which strikes the full The clock A is provid d with the shaft 13,IO hour at every quarter-hour. I I carrying the minute-lmnd and operatedin The invention consists in the constructie the usual manner bysuitable gear-wheels set and arrangement of certain parts and details inmotion b v springs or weights. On the and combinations of the same, aswill befully shaft l3 is secured an arm or lag, t', znlapted describedhereinafter, and then pointed outin 3 to operate on the star-wheel I).having twelve 15 the claims. l teeth and mounted to operate on a studse- 'Reference is to be had to the; "companying l cured to the frame Eof aclock, A. A Spring drawings, forming a part of this specification, lpawl, l), engages the teeth of the wheel I) in which similar letters ofreference indicate l and serves to hold the latter in its respectivecorresponding parts in all the figures. position. The arm or lug t turnsthe star- 20 Figurel is a front elevation of the improve- 1 wheel 1) thedistance of one tooth for every ment with the dial-plate removed andparts revolution of the minute-shalt it. broken out. Fig. 2 is an endelevation of the ()n the face of the star-wheel I) secured same withparts in section and parts of the l a cam, F, operating thehour-striking device clock mechanism removed. Fig. 3 is a trout andhaving its outer edge l'ormed into a 25 elevationof the same with partsin section l gradually-increasing helical. On this heliand partsremoved. Fig. lis a sectional plan l cal edge of the cam i is held oneend of the view of the upper part of the improvement. l lever G,fulcruined at G to the casingplates Fig. 5 is a like view of the lowerpart of the its other end resting on the outer end improvement. Fig. 6is a face view of the of the snaft ll, adapted to slidetransverselyin 3ocam for operating the hour-striking device. a sleeve, H having its beaing in the frame E. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 8 2 Onthe shaft H is secured an arm or ltli, is a face viewot the gin-disk. f;a side l H, extending through a transverse slot, H elevation of thesame. Fig. 10 i rcar face formed in the sleeve l1 and the said arm orview of the same. Fig. 11 is a side elevation 1 lug H is adapted toengage alternately the 35 of the cam tor operating the quarter-hourtwelve pins l, numbered 1. '3 3t 5 o T 910 11 striking device. Fig. 12is a front face view 12, respcctivclv, and projectingin a circle from ofthe same, and Fig. 13 is a rear Face view oi the front face of the wheelJ, secured on the the same. l shatt J, mounted to rotate in suitablebear- The object ol' the invention, as stated, has l ings on thecasing-plates E, and carrying a o heretofore been accomplished either bya se r gear-wheel, K, meshin into the gear-wheel K aratequarter-lrour-striking mechanism operot the train of gear-wheels of thestrikingrated by springs or weights indepcmlentlv of train. operated bysprin or weights in any the entire driving mechanism, or b v amechsuitable manner. The twelve pins I are of 5 anism of suchcomplicated character as to different graduallv-increasing lengths, and45 render the entire clock impracticable. serve to strike the hours andquarters. The \Yith myimprovement, presentlvto be depins I are placedequal distances apart in scribed, I accomplish the object in a vcrvthree-( uartcrs ot a circle of. which the fourth simple manner. Theimprovement is adaptquarter is left blank for an interval in strik- IOOable to clocks operated either b v springs or ing the quarter and tullhour. The three 50 weights and striking the full and quarterlongestpins,l, 2, and I), not onl vhclp to strike hours. 7 the fullhours, but also serve to strike the l The mechanism for driving theminute and quarter-hours by operating on an arm or lug,

L, secured to a shaft, L, adapted to slide transversely in suitablebearings formed in the frame E.

On the outer front end of the shaft L presses one end of a lever, N,fulcrumed at N and resting at its other end on the helical edge of acam, O,fastened on the outer face of a gearwheel, 0, mounted; to rotateon the shaft 0' and meshing into the gear-wheel "3, secured to theminute-hand shaft L, which is operated as above described. Thegear-wheels I3 and 0 have the same number of teeth, and consequentlyboth make one revolution to each revolution of the minute-hand shaft B.The helical edge of the cam O has three steps, a, b, and 0, serving toplace the pin L in such relative position to the long pins 1, 2, and 3as to strike the first quarter, the half, and the third quarter.

On the rear face of the gear-wheel O are arranged in a circle the fourequidistant pins P, of which three are the same length, one beingsomewhat longer than the others. The pins P operate on one end of thetorsion-s )ring Q, coiled 011 an arm, R, of the bell-crank lever R,secured to the shaft R having its bearings on the casing-plate E, andbeing adapted to slide transversely. The end of the arm R is slotted, asshown in Figs. 1 and 5, and through this slot passes the end of the saidtorsion-spring Q. 011 the other arm, R of the bell-crank lever R isformed a catch, R", adapted to engage a corresponding notch, J formed inthe rim of the disk J and serving to unlock the latter or lock it inplace after every revolution.

The shaft R is mounted to slide transversely in the frame E and carriesan arm or lug, R adapted to be engaged by the wedgeshaped lug J formedon the inner face of the disk J. At every revolution of the latter,which revolutions take place at every quarterhour, the wedge-shaped lugJ presses the arm R and its shaft R inward, so that the straight end ofthe torsion-spring Q slides over the respective pin P, and thedisengaged catch R can now engage its notch .l' of the disk J thuslocking the latter in place.

The disk J is rotated by the strikingtrain, but is controlled by thetime-train, inasmuch as the catch R disengages the notch J of the diskat every one-fourth of an hour by the action of the time-train on thelever B, as before described. Thus when the catch R" is disengaged thedisk J ispermitted to rotate by the action of the striking-train. (Shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3.)

()n the shaft R is also secured an 'arm, R, extending to one side of thecasing E and adapted to engage the flutter-wheel S whenever the catch Rengages the notch J", and when the latter is disengaged at every quarterof an hour the arm R is also disengaged from the flutterwheel S, thuspermitting the latter to rotate simultaneously with the disk J as bothare connected with the gear-wheels 5 Operating the striking mechanism.The torsion-spring Q serves to press the catch R" of the arm E into thenotch J 2 of the disk J.

On the shafts H and L are secured the arms H and L respectively, eachhaving an eye on its outer end engaging the U-shaped arms T and Y,respectively secured on the transverse shafts T and U, mounted to turnin suitablebearings formed on thecasing-pla-te The shafts T and i alsocarry on their inner ends the strikers Y and V, respectively, adapted tostrike on two bells of different pitch and located on the rear plate ofthe easing-plate E. The striker V strikes the hours and thestriker \Vstrikes the quarter-hours. The torsion-springs T and l are coiled on theshafts T and l', respectively, and serve to hold the strikers V and \Vin their usual positions in relation to their bells until the saidshafts T and U are acted on, as hereinafter more fully described, inorder to strike alternately the full and quarter hours. The button X,pivoted on the casing-plate, is provided with a beveled edge adapted topass over the end of the shaft R and press the end of the torsion-springQ out of contact with the three short pins P, secured to the gear-wheelO.

The operation is as follows: \Vhen the driving and striking devices ofthe clock are wound up in the usual manner, the driving mechanismoperates 011 the shaft B, so as to rotate the minute-hand, secured onthe said shaft in the usual manner, on the dial of the clock. Thestriking mechanism is held in a locked position by the arm It engagingthe wings of the flutter-wheel b until the minutehand on the shaft Breaches, say, the first quarter of an hour, and then the arm R is movedout of contact with the respective wing of the flutter-wheel by therocking of the bell-crank lever R, which is accomplished by one of thepins l pressing against the end of the torsion-spring Q, so that the armR of the bell-crank lever it is moved to the right and the other arm, Rwith its catch R, moved out of cimtact with the notch J 2 of the disk J,and at the same time that the said arm R is moved out of contact withthe flutterwheel b. The striking device is now set in motion by itsspring or weight, so that the gear-wheel K of the train of gear-wheelsmeshing into the gear-wheel K on the shaft J causes the latter torevolve with its disk J. The flutter-wheel S is operated from the sametrain of gear-wheels, as shown in Fig. The pin ll is now engaged on therotation of the said disk J by the number of pins 1 corresponding to thehour preceding the quarter of an hour above mentioned that is, if theminute-hand stands at a quarter past six then the pins I numbered from 6to 1 will successively engage the said arm H, thus striking the hour-bell six times before the full revolution of the wheel J iscompleted, and the longest pin I, numbered 1, strikes on the arm L, sothat the quarter-hon r bell is sounded once. The other pins I do notengage the j arms H and L on account of the respective positions of thelatter, which positions are governed by the cams F and 0. As shown inFig. 1, the upper end of the lever G engages the helical edge of the camF opposite the inparts, so that the said lever G with its lower positionthat its pin ll stands midway between the shortest and longest pins, 1and j the helical edge of the cam l".

12, of the pins.It-hat is, when the disk J rotates the pins numberedfrom 12 to 7 do not engage the said arm Il-and hence the hour-bell issounded only six times.

scribed. terseeting point of the lowest and highest certain distance, sothat the pin numbered 7 will first engage the arm H whenever the disk Jmakes its revolution, as above de- Thus it will he understood thatwhenever the star-wheel I) has made a full revolution twelve hours havepassed, and the end presses the shaft H into such a relative t upper endof the lever (1 drops again upon the zero-pointthat is, on the lowestpart of In a similar manner the upper end of the lever X will alwaysdrop on the zero-point of the helical Inasimilar manner the posit-ion ofthe pin L is regulated by the cam 0, the step a of which the cam t).

engages the upper end of the lever N, so 1 one revolution, the wedgeengages the arm R and pushes the latter, with its shaft R'-, in-

' ward, so that the end of the torsion-spring Q cam 0 whenever one fullhour has passed and the said upperend of the lever) has traveled overthe steps (I, h, and r of the outer edge of The springs 'l. and l' onthe shafts T and serve to hold. the strikers Y and \V in theirrespective positions in relation to their bells. and at the same timehold As soon as the disk J has nearly completed I drops off at the innerend of the respective 1 pin P, and as the said torsion-spring Q had 1been pressed by the action of the said pin P it presses on thebell-crank lever B, so that the catch R" again drops into the notch .1which is now opposite to it, and at the same time the arm R, secured onthe shaft R end of the torsion-spring Q as soon as the by the said cam,a transversely-sliding shaft minute-hand has reached the half-hour, andl operated on bythe said lever and carrying an the same operation fordisengaging the iiutter- 1 wheel S and the disk .I is repeated, as abovedescribed. hen the disk J is rotated, its pins numbered from 6 to 1first engage the arm H and again strike six times on the houebell, andthen after a short interval the thus sounding the quarter-hour belltwice.

changed during this one-quarter-hou r movement of the minute-handshat'tB, as the lever G and the shaft II are only operated on when afull hour is completedthat is, the arm 0 on the shaft. B pushes thestar-wheel D the distance of one of its twelve teeth whenever theminute'hand has completed a full hour. \Vhenever the arm 0 has shiftedthe star- 1 wheel D the distance of one tooth, the upper end of thelever G has been moved outward and the lower end moved inward, so as toshift the shaft H, with its arm H, inward the distance equal to thedifference between two successive pins, I, on the disk J, so that whenthe minute-hand on the dial has completed the full hour the arm H isshifted inward a the pins ll and L in position to be engaged by thesucceeding pins I on the pins .1.

Having thus fully describedmyinvent ion,l claim as new and desire, tosecure by Imtters Patent 1. In a clock, the combination, with theminute-hand shaft, of a he]ical-edgtal cam operated from the said shaft,a lever connected at its upper end with the said 'helieal-edgtal cam. atransverse sliding shaft operated on by the said lever and carrying anarm or lug. and a disk provided with pins gradually increasing in lengthwhen set in motion by the striking mechanism, said pins operating onsaid transverse shaft. which operates the striker, substantially asshown and described.

2. In a clock, the combination, with the minute-hand shaft carrying agear-wheel, ot' a gear-wheel mounted on a stud and with which meshes thefirst-named gearwheel, a l helical-edged cam formed on the front faceofi the said second gear-wheel, a lever operated arm or lug, and a diskprovided with pins gradually increasing in length and having a rotarymotion, three of said pins operating on the said arm orlug on thetransverse shaft,

f which carries a striker, substantially as shown 1 and described. twolongest pins, 2 and l, engage the arm L,

'5. In a clock, a disk rotated by suitable i mechanism and provided withpins of differ- The position of the arm H has not been 1 entgradually-increasing lengths, in combinati on with an arm or lug onwhich the said pins operate, said arm or lug being secured to a shaftoperating the hour-striker and having a transverse sliding motioncontrolled by the minute-hand shaft, substantially as shown anddescribed.

l. In a clock, a revolving disk provided with pins of differentgradually-increasing lengths and arranged in three-quarters of. a circleon the said disk, in combination with an arm or lug on which the threelongest pins operate, said arm or lug being secured to a shaft operatingthe quarter-hour striker and having a transverse sliding motioncontrolled by the minute-hand, substantially as shown and described.

IIO

5. In a clock, a disk having a rotary motion and provided with pins ofdifferent graduallyincreasing lengths and arranged in threequarters of acircle on the said disk, in combination with an arm or lug on which thei equal distances apart,atorsion-spring having said pins operate, saidarm or lug being secured to a shaft operating the hour-striker andhaving a transverse sliding motion controlled by the minute-hand shaft,and a second arm or lug operated on by the three longest of the saidpins, said second arm or lug being secured to a shaft operating thequarterhour striker, and having a transverse sliding motion alsocontrolled by the minute-hand shaft, substantially as shown anddescribed.

6. In a clock, the combination, with the minutehand shaft carrying anarm, of a starwheel provided with twelve teeth operated on by the saidarm, a l'lPllCzll-Wlg'ttl cam formed on the outer face of the saidstarwheel, a lever held with one end in contact with the helical edge ofthe said cam, a shaft operating the hour-striker and receiving atransverse sliding motion from the said lever, an arm or lug projectingfrom the said shaft, and a revolving disk provided with pins ofdifferent gradually-increasing lengths and arranged in three-quarters ofa circle on the said disk, said pins operating on the said arm or lug,substantially as shown and described.

7. In a clock, the combination, with the minute-hand shaft carrying agear-wheel, of a second gear-wheel meshing into the said first-namedgear-wheel, four pins secured to the rear face of the said gear-wh eel,and placed equal distances apart, a torsionspring having a straight endengaged alternately by the said four pins, a bell-crank lever on whichthe said torsion-spring is held, a shaft having a transverse slidingmotion and carrying the said bell-crank lever, an arm projecting fromthe said shaft, and a disk having a rotary motion and provided with awedge on one of its faces, said wedge engaging at every revolution ofthe said disk the said lug or arm on the said shaft, so as to cause thelatter to slide transversely, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a clock, the combination, with a minute-hand shaft carrying agear-Wheel, of a second gear-Wheel meshing into the said first-namedgear-Wheel, four pins secured to the rear face of the said gear-wheeland placed a straight end engaged alternately by the said four pins, abell-crank lever 011 which the said torsion-spring is held, a shafthaving a transverse sliding motion and carrying the said bell-cranklever, an arm projecting from the said shaft, a disk having a rotarymotion and provided with a wedge on one of its faces, said wedgeengaging at every revolution of the said disk the said lug or arm on thesaid shaft, so as to cause the latter to slide transversely, and an armsecured to the said shaft and adapted to engage the flutter-Wheel of theclock, substantially as shown and described.

$1. In a clock, the combination, with the minute-hand shaftcarrying agearwheel, of a second gear-wheel meshing into the said first-namedgear-wheel, four pins secured to the rear faceof the said gear-wheel andplaced equal distances apart, a torsion-spring having astraight endengaged alternately by the said four pins, a bell-cran k lever on whichthe said torsion-spring is held, ashaft having a transverse slidingmotion and carrying the said bell-crank lever, an arm projecting fromthe said shaft, a disk having a rotary motion and provided with a wedgeon one of its faces, said wedge engaging at every revolution of the saiddisk the said lug or arm on the said shaft, so as to cause the latter toslide trans verscly, an arm secured to the said shaft and adapted toengage the flutter-wheel of the clock, and a catch formed on one arm ofthe said bell-crank lever and adapted to engage a corresponding notchformed in the rim of the said disk, substantially as shown and described.

CHAIM ARONSON.

\Vitnesses: 4 I

THEO. G. HosTER, C. SEDGWICK.

